A RUSSIAN woman whose son suffered extensive burns after slipping into a hot spring in Pai, a small town in Mae Hong Son province, said language problems led to it taking three visits to the police station to file a complaint about this accident with this prompting senior police officers and officials to meet her today (Oct. 14), Sanook.com said.
Mrs. Elina Kreptova, 35, said her son Mikhail Ivanov, 7, fell into the hot spring at around 11 a.m. on October 4 and got seriously burned.
He was first taken to Pai Hospital and then transferred to Chiang Mai Ram Hospital. There he had to undergo three operations and while now out of danger still remains in ICU.
Elina, her husband and son had first visited Pattaya and then arrived in Chiang Mai on Oct 1. On the day of the accident they had rented a car to drive to Pai and on the way stopped to take pictures at the hot springs. It was there that her son slipped into one of the hot springs and while only being in the water for five seconds he was burned on his stomach, arms and legs.
She added that the hot springs were not adequately fenced and this may be the reason her son slipped and fell into one of them.
She had gone to Pai police station to file a complaint three times but there was a communication problem. She then coordinated with a friend in Pattaya who roped in an interpreter to help but by then the incident was reported on Esorn News web page.
Elina added that the issue of concern is the medical expense because they are not covered by insurance. Currently the medical bill has reached around 500,000 ane while the Orthodox Foundation in Bangkok is covering this much they cannot pay anymore.
Meeting her today were Pol Maj. Gen. Warissiri Leelasiri, head of Tourist Police Division 2, along with Pol. Lt. Col. Mangkorn Saenmuangma, Chiang Mai provincial tourism Inspector and Tourism and Sports Ministry officials based in the northern city.
Pol. Lt. Col. Mangkorn said after finding out about the accident tourist police had held talks to help the victim’s family. Initially it has to be found out whether the spot where the accident occurred is public or private property.
Meanwhile Ms. Watcharaporn Suthisombat, an official of the Tourism and Sports ministry in Chiang Mai, said there is a fund to cover the medical expenses of injured tourists but it has to be found out whether the accident occurred through negligence or defects at the tourist attraction.
She added that she had submitted this case to a sub-committee for consideration and has coordinated with all units to help take care of the family with this including helping them transfer the injured boy to a hospital in Bangkok if they so want to.
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The hot springs where the boy got injured and Elina talking to the police. Photos: Sanook.com
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